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T3 TREATMENTS A PRIORTY IN VALUABLE
Date added: 10/06/08 |
With ear spray the last opportunity to protect the crop from diseases, incorrect decisions now could mean all previous crop protection actions and investments may be wasted, warns ProCam’s Technical Director, Dr. David Ellerton.
Predicting an increase in T3 sprays, he says growers should aim to protect the crop right through to harvest, particularly as the value of any yield and quality improvements are now worth so much more.
“Ear sprays are concerned with yield, mycotoxin control as well as grain quality,” he says.
“T3 treatments are applied as top up treatments for foliar disease control as well as targeting specific ear diseases such as sooty moulds, Fusarium and Microdochium. If Septoria and rusts are building, it is important they are prevented from getting onto the ear and you must be aware of any risk from Fusarium ear blight.”
Growers are now required to conduct a Fusarium assessment including details on the previous crop, cultivations, rainfall at flowering, harvest conditions, variety and region. Dr. Ellerton points out that several important wheat varieties have a low resistance rating to Fusarium.
“This year it is estimated that over 30% of wheat in the ground has a 5 rating to Fusarium ear blight and this includes Robigus, Consort, Hereward, Gladiator and Alchemy. A further 36% has a 6 rating, including Xi19, Solstice and Cordiale. The new varieties Battalion, Marksman and Oakley have a proposed 4 rating, which is concerning.”
If Fusarium risk is high, he considers a T3 treatment to be worthwhile.
“Appropriate treatments on the ears should include active ingredients such as tebuconazole, metconazole and prothioconazole. Products include Cello (prothioconazole, tebuconazole and spiroxamine), Veto (tebuconazole) or Juventus (metconazole).”
“There has been some debate about avoiding the use of some straight strobilurins such as azoxystrobin on the ear, as they are effective on sooty moulds and Microdochium, which is not a mycotoxin producer, but not as good on Fusarium that does produce mycotoxins. The theory goes that this creates a vacuum for the mycotoxin-producing Fusarium ear blight to grow. But in practice this only happens occasionally and can easily be coped with by mixing the strob with a suitable triazole,” says Dr Ellerton.
PRM193
10th June 2008
For further information please contact Dr. David Ellerton, ProCam Ltd., Royston, Herts. Telephone: 01763 261592
Issued by Philip Hainey, Proterra Ltd., Stamford, Lincs. Telephone: 01780 756299
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